Local school district to install solar panels

(KMOV.com) - A local school district is launching a program to use alternative energy at its schools.

Parkway School District held a ribbon cutting on Tuesday to launch construction of a system of solar panels that will be installed on all schools and administration buildings. The district signed a 20-year contract with a company, Brightergy, to install 3267 solar panels on 33 buildings.

The district claims it's the largest rooftop solar project in the history of Missouri.

Parkway will pay $72,300 per year to lease the solar panels. The district estimates it will save $1.4 million on its electric bill over the life of the contract. The first panels will go up at Barretts Elementary School in Manchester. Installation could begin as early as next week.